Rotary engine.



N0- 759,779. PATENTED MAY 10, 1904. S. M. WADE 62; G. E. GARNER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

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s. M. WADE & G. E. GARNER. ROTARY ENGINE. PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP F12, 1903.

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PATENTED MAY 10 1904. S. M. WADE & G. B. GARNER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SEDGVVICK-MILLS lVADE AND (ll-FORGE EDWARD GARNER, OF ANDOVER,

OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,779, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed September 2, 1903. Serial No. 171,652. (No modeLi This invention relates to improvements in Io steam-engines, and particularly appcrtains to certain novel and useful improvements in retary engines.

In carrying out the present invention we have in contemplation the provision of amechanism of the class described which will be simple in its construction, positive in its operation, and embodying the desired features of durability and economy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary engine, the internal revoluble disk of which is supplied with a plurality of spring-tensioned pistons designed to be operated by the pressure of steam within the easing of the engine for the purpose of turning a power-shaft.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a number of revolving abntments having grooves or recesses therein, said abutments being operated through the medium of the revolution of the disk of the engine in such manner that the recesses will be brought into a predetermined position at certain times to permit the passing of the pistons.

With the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view our invention con sists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as is described in this specification, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is aview in side elevation of an engine embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view with one of the sections of the casing removed to show the interior construction of the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of our improved engine, the

valve-housing being removed and a portion of the casing broken away to show the relative position occupied by the pistons and the revolving abutments at certain times. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through the engine substantially on the line 4 1 of Fig. 3, such view illustrating the passage of the steam into the engine. Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the engine on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the valve for controlling the admission of steam through the engine, and Fig. 8 shows a modiiied form of abutment-disk.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, 5 indicates the base of the easing of our improved. engine, said casing being formed of two sections 6 and 7, which sections are connected through the medium of a plurality of bolts 8 passing through alining apertures formed in the flanged end portions of the casing. Extending centrally through the casing is a main shaft 9, carrying a belt-pulley 10, and mounted upon said shaft within the casing is the disk 11 of the engine, said disk being of less diameter than the interior of the casing, so that an annular chamber 12 is formed between the inner circular wall of the casing and the outer surface of the disk wheel.

Mounted circumferentially of the disk are a number of pistons 13, each piston comprising a supporting-block 14, having a groove or recess 15 therein, within which recess is seated a spring 16, carrying at its outer end a block 17. WVe have also arranged circumferentially of the disk wheel a number of packings 18, each packing being pressed outward through the medium of a spring 19, these spring-pressed packings being placed so as tolie at the point of contact of the abutment-blocks and the piston.

It will be seen by reference to the drawings that the casing near the base provided with small supplemental chambers 2020, said chambers being arranged on opposite sides of the main chamber, and passing through each of said chambers is a shaft 21, there being mounted upon the shaft within the chamber an abutment block or disk 22, these disks bei ng formed of any solid material and are each formed with a cut-away portion 23, such cut-away portion being designed when the shafts 21 21 are rotated, as hereinafter described, to be presented toward the opening or main chamber, so that the pistons may readily pass said abutments. The chambers may be of any suitable character, care being taken, however, to have them of such form that a space is left back of the abutment-blocks, whereby friction is avoided on the surface of the said blocks opposite the point of pressure. The shafts 21 21 extend transversely entirely through the casing, and mounted upon each shaft at the exterior of the casing is a toothed gear-wheel24, these gear-wheels being designed in turn to mesh with and be driven by a relatively large gearwheel 25, mounted upon the main shaft 9 at the exterior of the casing.

In order to operate or drive the engine, the steam is admitted through the steam-pipe 26 into a channel or cavity 27, formed in the valve housing or casing 28, which housing is secured to one side of the engine casing through the medium of screws or bolts 29. From the cavity formed in the housing 27 steam is admitted to a steam-port 30, which leads into the main steam-chamber 12 of the engine. A second steam-inlet port or channel 31 is also formed in the side of the easing and is designed to conduct steam from the valve-housing at the side of the easing into the steam-chamber, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 3. The admission of the steam through the ports or channels 30 and 31 is controlled through the medium of a revolving disk valve 32, keyed, as at 33, upon the main shaft 9, said valve being designed to turn with the shaft, and said disk valve is provided with apertures or openings 34, designed to register at certain periods with the steam-inlet ports or channels, while the cut-away portions 34: at the periphery of the disk register with the ports 30, so that the steam will be admitted from the valve-housinginto the main chamber of the engine to drive the pistons and disk wheel. The steam entering through the port 30 will follow the circular path formed between the disk wheel of the engine and the interior wall of the casing and, striking against the projecting pistons, by impact and expansion will turn the disk wheel at a rapid rate of speed. The course of the steam entering through the port 30 is freely shown by the path of the arrows in Fig. 3, and when the disk of the wheel has reached a certain point the steam driving the same will pass out through the exhaust-port 35, which port communicates with the steam-path in the casing. As the projecting pistons pass the exhaustport they strike against the adjacent abutting disk or block 22, and the recess or opening 23 therein permits the piston to pass over the abutment-block and continue its path of travel.

After passing the abutment-block to the left in Fig. 3 the piston is subjected to the second impact charge of steam received from the inlet-port or steam-channel 31, which charge of steam continues the driving of the wheel, the charge from such latter port 31 passing out through the exhaust-port 36, located adjacent to the right-hand abutment-disk in Fig. 3, the piston passing the abutment-disk to the right in a manner similar to that just described as to the left-hand abutment-disk, and the operation of the engine is repeated. It is to be noted that the disk valve opens and closes the admission to the steam-inlet ports at certain predetermined times, so that while a charge of steam from one inlet is being admitted to the engine the charge previously received from the opposite inlet will be exhausted.

It will be noted that the large gear-wheel 25, which is fast on the shaft 9 and meshes with the gear-wheels 24, will drive the shafts 21 21, upon which the abutment-disks are mounted, and causes the revolution of said disks to bring the recesses therein in the path of the passing pistons at the proper moment.

It will be noted that we have provided an exceedingly simple and compact engine and one which is capable of attainingahigh degree of efficiency.

WVhile we have shown and herein described one particular embodiment of our invention, it is of course to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details of construction shown herein, as there may be modifications and variations in certain respects without departing from the essential features of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of a casing, ashaft journaled therein, a disk mounted upon said shaft, a steam-path being formed between the periphery of the disk and the wall of the casing, a plurality of supplemental chambers communicating with the casing, shafts journaled in said casings, recessed abutment-blocks carried by said latter shafts, gearing interposed 1 between the shaft in the casing and the shafts in the chambers for imparting motion to the latter, a piston carried by the disk, a valvehousing secured to the side of the casing, a plurality of communicating ports leading from the housing into the casing at different points, a self-seating disk valve rotating with the shaft of the casing and controlling the inlets, means for conducting steam into the valvehousing, and exhaust-ports leading from the engine-casing, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a casing, a shaft journaled therein, a disk mounted within the easing upon said shaft, said disk having a plurality of spring tensioned pistons, and also mit the passage of the pistons on the wheeldisk Within the casing, and exhaust-ports for 5 the escape of the operating charge from the engine, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SEDGWIUK MILLS WADE. (irEORGE EDNARD GARNER.

\Nitnesses:

P. T. NELSON, C. E. Amomz. 

